Friday, 28 June 2013

Last-Week Links: 28 June 2013

They always have seven days in them but some weeks are bigger than others. This week was an extra big one for me, as I decided to leave my job after 10.5 years to concentrate on my freelance projects. I'm excited and terrified - but mostly excited. For this reason, I think stories about inspiring creative and brave women have been even more appealing this week.

I loved the Business of Fashion's profile of writer Lynn Yaeger, who - despite her repuation - still considers herself an outsider in fashion, about to be turned away from the Met Ball, and I thought her philosophy about keeping sight of reality and not becoming "seduced by this dream world of money and fashion" was very sound indeed.

The colourful ensembles pictured at the top of the post are costume designs by Olivia Rose Hulme. They're her vision for the characters of Dora and Nora Chance from Angela Carter's wonderful Wise Children, filtered through the style of Marlene Dietrich and Isabella Blow (found via Pigeons and Peacocks)

I also really enjoyed reading about the exhibition of clothes of Ann Bonfoey Taylor at the Georgia Museum of Art: a woman wealthy enough to have an exquisite wardrobe tailored to her own needs and tastes - and did so in high style.

I haven't looked at the resort collections in too much details (I think that would mean me spending 25 hours a day on the internet) but, as instant refreshment for my eyes, the Orla Kiely collection is adorable. Polka dots + hearts + vintage-style pinks and blues = a very happy Frances (found via Calivintage).

And, alongside Orla, there's Karen. Karen Walker, of course, whose Resort Collection is her usual perfect balance of girlie and grown-up, cutie and classic. All that's missing from the picture is the accompanying holiday.

I Love Your Style used the Chloe resort collection to explore a classic holiday look - sailor style. Her selection includes everyone from Jean Harlow to Jerry Hall. And Alexa Chung. Though, I'm not sure if it's her dress or the bathroom I'm coveting more here.

Whether it's hitting the boat, the beach or the open road, it's all seems to be about summer time adventures at the moment. Doug Aitken's Station to Station ten day cross America train trip sounds brilliant - especially as he's taking musicians, artists, writers and chefs along for the ride. Handily, I've got a permanent reminder of my own adventures in the sunshine of Cuba earlier this year thanks to my local coffee shop, Casa Cuba. A nice little glimpse inside this sweet cafe went up on the blog, The Triangle SE19, earlier this week.

Summertime wear, at home or abroad, can always benefit from some flowers. The styles shown in this 1941 Life article and reproduced on the Lilies and Remains blog are so pretty. As I sit here, typing along to the sounds of the Glastonbury festival on the radio, I can't help but think I'd rather be in a field in Somerset with some fresh red bouvardia in my hair.

Lots of treats coming up for me however. Though not quite Glastonbury, and the Rolling Stones almost certainly won't be making a guest appearance, it's the Crystal Palace Overground Festival this weekend, and I'm looking forward to some fun times in my neighbourhood (perhaps I'll put some flowers in my hair anyway). Tonight, I get to catch up with a treasured friend who is over from New York, and reminisce about our student days. I'll also be attending my first Pamflet salon on Tuesday, when Anna Mackenzie Stuart, author of Diana Vreeland: Empress of Fashion will be speaking. So it's all quite wonderful really.

Visualize yourself as you looked on a beautiful autumn day last year. There's not much of the picture that survives. Not the hemline, waistline or the shoulderline ... If you're not a Last-Year Girl. You'll like the feel of a longer, fuller skirt flowing around you as you move ... You'll enjoy having hips again - without apologies; and the satisfaction of a small, rounded, tapering waist and of having it show in the snug bodice tops. You can have it all.